April is National Volunteer Month, and the volunteer season will begin at Laurelwood Arboretum on Tuesday, April 9, at 9 am at the arboretum’s pavilion. Anyone who is interested in volunteering is welcome. Laurelwood Arboretum is located at 725 Pines Lake Drive West in Wayne.
On kickoff day, the volunteers will work until 11:30 and then enjoy refreshments and a welcome event starting at noon. Mary Jo Sichak will present, “What’s in Bloom,” a slide show of all the flowering plants, trees and shrubs in the arboretum that she recorded and labeled last year. Mary Jo is a Master Gardener, a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum, and an accomplished gardener and photographer.
“The arboretum would not be beautiful and healthy without the hours of work put in by our volunteers,” said Elaine Fogerty, Executive Director of Laurelwood Arboretum “Our volunteers prune, thin and propagate; divide and replant perennials; plant bulbs; mulch the gardens; and eliminate invasive weeds. There is always work to do, something new to learn and someone new to meet.”
Volunteers are welcome to work in the park any Tuesday or Friday from April 10 through October. Individuals can drop in anytime and do not need to sign up in advance. They should bring water, small hand tools and gardening gloves if they have them. Groups are asked to call 973-831-5675 or send an email to info@laurelwodarboretum.org to make arrangements in advance.
In addition to gardening, there are a number of construction projects to maintain the bridges, paths, and other structures in the arboretum. Friends of Laurelwood Arboretum also welcomes volunteers to join a committee or share special skills in writing, marketing, fundraising, publicity, computers or any other area.
Volunteers include students, scouts, corporate groups, Passaic County Master Gardeners and people of all ages. For further information about volunteering and to be directed to the area that best fits your interests and talents, please send an email to info@laurelwoodarboretum.org or call 973-831-5675.